Downtown in Blacksburg in Montgomery County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

William Black

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 3, 2011

1. William Black Marker

Inscription. Just northeast stood the home of William Black, the founder of Blacksburg. In 1797, he laid out a 16-block grid and petitioned the Virginia General Assembly to incorporate a town here; the legislature approved his petition on 13 January 1798. On 4 August 1798, he deeded the 38¾-acre site to the town's trustees, who included his brother and himself. Black served as a justice of the peace before moving to Ohio. He died there in 1850 at the age of 84 and he was buried in Pike Township, Clark County.

Erected 1998 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KG-24.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 13, 1798.

Location. 37° 13.807′ N, 80° 24.883′ W. Marker is in Blacksburg, Virginia, in Montgomery County. It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of North Main Street (Business U.S. 460) and Jackson Street NE (Virginia Route 785), on the right when traveling north on North Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 North Main Street, Blacksburg VA 24060, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia,

in the Blue Ridge Highlands,

and in the New River Gorge.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:

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The Cellar Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Armory (about 400 feet away); The Early Years / Campus Over Time (about 600 feet away); Thomas-Conner House (about 700 feet away); William Frank Henderson (about 700 feet away); Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (about 700 feet away); People and Place / Land Grant College (about 700 feet away); Alexander Black House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Blacksburg.

Also see . . . History of Blacksburg. Town of Blacksburg, Virginia. (Submitted on April 4, 2011.)

N Main St (facing north) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, April 3, 2011

2. N Main St (facing north)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,939 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 4, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.